The Prevalence of Xerostomia in Patients with Removable Prostheses

Purpose: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of xerostomia among patients attending a dental clinic for provision of dentures and to investigate the oral cleanliness in those patients. Materials and Methods: Denture-wearing patients who reported dry mouth completed a questionnaire related to xerostomia. Dryness of the mouth was determined by clinical observation. Dental and denture cleanliness was determined using the Modified Debris Index. Results: One hundred twenty patients had xerostomia. Oral cleanliness was generally poor. Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of xerostomia in the patient population. A high proportion of subjects had poor oral cleanliness.